Finding the place was quite a challenge, though that was due to a combination of factors including misleading (or misunderstood) directions from the bus, as well as the property being a newly opened one and hence not well-known to locals. Finally, we managed to get a tuk-tuk driver to send us to the hotel.
Check-in was quite straightforward and the front desk staff was friendly and helpful to provide information on shuttle bus timings and taxi fares in the Patong area. The staff also confirmed that we got a pool view room and was happy to comply when we requested for a twin room instead of a double.
Jul 26 2016 - Jul 29 2016 [3 nights]
As the norm in South East Asia, this hotel also has an open-aired lobby, complete with rattan chairs suspended from the ceiling.
One deviation from the norm in South East Asia is that no welcome drinks were offered, though that was probably not incoherent with its positioning.
Another thing that puzzles me is that the front desk staff requested a deposit of THB 1,500 to cover the stay. While it is not uncommon practice, this is the first time I have experienced it in Thailand. Furthermore, I would think it is the convention to place an earmark on the customer's credit card, rather than requesting a cash deposit.
Stepping out from the elevator, it was clear that the minimalist concept was consistently applied through the hotel.
The bathroom was located at the left of the entrance, with an enclosed shower area, complete with slip-proof mat, which is a nice touch.
It was also stocked with several useful amenities, including a hairdryer at the cabinet below the sink, as well as an iron and ironing board at the cabinet on the left of the entrance.
The toiletries provided were supplied by Portico, which is consistent with our experiences in Hyatt Regency properties in Thailand.
Once inside the room there is a small desk with an adjoining cupboard, which housed the minibar.
While it might appear a little IKEA-ish, I felt really comfortable with the furnishing of this room, especially the sectional sofa at a corner of the room, where I ended up lounging for quite a fair bit of time.
I realised that the open-air closet, or rather simply a rack with matching hangers seems like a trendy thing, since I also saw it at the Sugar Marina in Kata. On one hand I thought it makes sense for a beach destination, since it would be better to keep wet laundry in the open-air, though I suppose you would still want a proper closet for other clothing.
On the cupboard was a coffee pot, as well as complimentary water and beverage mix. There is also an universal plug, among many others, which I have learnt to appreciate when travelling abroad, considering I once paid about ~SGD 12 for an adapter in Krabi.
The room had a nice view of the pool, which is nice. However, I probably would not want to pay the full premium to upgrade to a pool view room.
I did, however, went for a dip on the second day, and was rather unimpressed by the pool. While the design was aesthetically pleasing, the pool was a mere 0.8~1m deep. In addition, the water smells strong of chlorine or some other disinfectant. I choose to give it the benefit of the doubt that the pool be overdosed with disinfectants since it was a new property and probably under-utilised at the moment.
The is also a 24 hr gym available though this time we gave it a miss.
Coming back to the room itself, the mattresses were soft, and the bedding fluffy.
In fact, I would think Hyatt could have easily given Westin a run for their money.
Similarly to the hotel in Kata, the Hyatt Place in Patong is also located within walking distance from the beach, although the entrance is somewhat secluded in a small alley by the more conspicuous Novotel Phuket Resort.
Breakfast was served at the restaurant beside the lobby. While the restaurant was airy and featured great lighting, the food offered was absolutely underwhelming.
To be fair the food didn't taste bad, in fact the sautéed mushrooms and sausages were actually quite flavourful. However, the choices available were extremely limited, to the extent that apart from the continental breakfast spread (bread, salad, fruit and dairy), the hot options are almost entirely represented by what I have on the plate.
The saving grace was the cappuccino machine, which I thought was a great feature in a contemporary themed property, as well as the omelette. The poached eggs however, was only mediocre, and I was rather disappointed that it was served without hollandaise sauce.
Service was however, a great highlight at this property. Not only did the staff always made it a point to greet guests whenever they return to the hotel or pass by the concierge, it was also done with genuine smiles and sincerity.
Also, I do find that the staff here do make it a point to proactively provide convenience to guests. On the final day, as we checked-out of the hotel, we did not realise that the join-bus we arranged for was actually waiting at the foot of the hill instead of at the lobby. The concierge staff offered to drive us down to meet the bus, a gesture which we really appreciated, since I was having a rather funny stomach at that point.
Conclusion
The hotel is located within a stone throw from Patong beach, so represents a convenient location at a great value. In fact there are sea-view rooms available at fairly reasonable rates of ~SGD 100. The staff is friendly, though perhaps the property is still new, I could often sense some nervousness in the service rendered. I am nevertheless impressed by the proactive help and genuine hospitality of the staff.
I am still interested to find out how would a select service hotel that caters to a mix of business and leisure travellers fit into such a leisure-heavy destination like Phuket, though I would seriously consider staying at the property again.
